Universal motor bracket for motor operators

ABSTRACT

A mounting bracket for the motor within a motor operator for a circuit breaker may be secured within the motor operator&#39;s housing a first orientation, thereby permitting it to support a first type of motor. Placing the mounting bracket within the housing in a second orientation permits the mounting bracket to accommodate a second type of motor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to motor operators for circuitbreakers. More specifically, the present invention provides a mountingbracket for the motor of a motor operator, adapted to permit use of themounting bracket with different motors by merely changing theorientation of the mounting bracket within the motor operator housing.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Circuit breakers are frequently actuated remotely, by securing amotor operator over the face of the circuit breaker, so that the motoroperator can actuate the circuit breaker. A typical motor operatorincludes an electric motor, operatively connected through a system ofgears to a threaded rod. A sliding actuator is threadedly connected tothe threaded rod, so that rotation of the threaded rod causes thesliding actuator to reciprocate back and forth. The sliding actuatorfits over the circuit breaker's operating handle, so that movement ofthe actuator moves the operating handle. A kill/toggle switch at eachend of the sliding actuator's range of travel shuts off the current, andreverses the direction of current that will be supplied to the motor,upon being depressed by the sliding actuator. A printed circuit boardwill typically contain the motor operator's control circuitry.

[0005] When the user transmits a signal to close the circuit breaker,the control circuitry will supply current to the motor, thereby rotatingthe threaded shaft to slide the sliding actuator from one end of itsrange of travel to the other, thereby moving the circuit breaker'soperating handle, and closing the circuit breaker. Upon reaching the endof its range of travel wherein the circuit breaker is closed, thesliding actuator hits the toggle switch at that location, therebyshutting off current to the motor, and reversing the direction ofcurrent to the motor. When the user transmits a signal to open thecircuit breaker, the control circuit will again supply current to themotor, thereby moving the sliding actuator to the opposite end of itsrange of travel, moving the circuit breaker's operating handle to itsopen position. As before, when the sliding actuator reaches the positionwherein the circuit breaker is open, it strikes a kill/toggle switch,shutting off current to the motor, and reversing the direction ofcurrent flow to the motor.

[0006] Depending on the specific application for which the motoroperator will be used, a different size or type of motor may beselected. To reduce the costs associated with maintaining componentinventories, and assembling the motor operators, it is desirable that asmany other components as possible remain the same even if a differentsized motor is used. Accordingly, there is a need for a mounting bracketfor motors within a motor operator capable of being used to secure morethan one type of motor within the motor operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention provides a mounting bracket for supportingthe motor within a motor operator, capable of being used with twodifferent motors by merely switching the orientation of the mountingbracket.

[0008] The mounting bracket of the present invention includes a pair offlanges joined together at a substantially perpendicular angle to eachother. Each flange of the bracket includes a motor aperture, at leastone motor screw aperture, and at least one mounting screw hole. Morepreferably, the mounting bracket includes a pair of motor screwapertures on each side of the motor aperture, and a pair of mountingscrew holes. Each flange also includes an outside face, facing away fromthe opposing flange, and an inside face, facing towards the opposingflange. The outside face of each flange includes at least one, andpreferably at least a pair, of locating pegs, dimensioned and configuredto fit within apertures within the floor of the motor operator'shousing. The mounting bracket will preferably have a difference inheight between the motor aperture within its first flange and the motoraperture within its second flange. Preferred embodiments will alsoinclude a different shape and location of locator peg on the outsideface of each flange.

[0009] To mount a first size motor within the motor operator housing,the locator pegs on the second flange are inserted into the housingfloor, so that the first flange will support the motor. Likewise, toinstall second type of motor within the motor operator housing, thelocator pegs on the first flange are inserted into the correspondingapertures within the bottom of the housing, so that the second flange ofthe bracket is supporting the motor. The motor is then secured withinthe bracket, and the bracket is secured within the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of a circuit breaker with itsassociated motor operator.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a top isometric view of a circuit breaker and itsassociated motor operator, with the cover of the motor operator removed.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a top isometric view of a circuit breaker and motoroperator, with the cover of the motor operator removed

[0013]FIG. 4 is a top isometric view of a circuit breaker and motoroperator, with the cover and printed circuit board of the motor operatorremoved

[0014]FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a mounting bracket of the presentinvention, illustrating the mounting bracket in a first orientation.

[0015]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a mounting bracket according to thepresent invention, illustrating the mounting bracket in a secondorientation.

[0016]FIG. 7 is a partially exploded view of a housing and motormounting bracket for a motor operator, illustrating the mounting bracketbeing installed in the housing in the second orientation of FIG. 6.

[0017]FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a housing, motor, and motor bracketfor a motor operator of the present invention, illustrating the bracketbeing used in its second orientation of FIG. 6.

[0018]FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a housing and motor mounting bracketfor a motor operator according to the present invention, illustratingthe mounting bracket being installed in the housing in its firstorientation of FIG. 5.

[0019]FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a housing, motor, and motorbracket according to the present invention, illustrating the bracketbeing used in its first orientation of FIG. 5.

[0020] Like reference numbers denote like elements throughout thedrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The present invention provides a mounting bracket for the motorwithin a motor operator for a circuit breaker, which may be used tomount either of two alternative motors within the motor operator bymerely switching the orientation of the mounting bracket.

[0022] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a motor operator 10 mounted on the face 12of a circuit breaker 14. The motor operator 10 includes a housing 16having a base 18, mounting bracket 20, and cover 22. The base 18 ishingedly secured to the mounting bracket 20, which is in turn secured tothe face 12 of the circuit breaker 14 by means well known in the art ofcircuit breakers, for example, screws passing through the apertures 24.The base 18 also includes a lifting tab 26, for lifting the hingedlysecured base 18 away from the mounting bracket 20 to provide manualcontrol of the circuit breaker 14. The housing 16 of the motor operator10 also includes a cover 22, which, in conjunction with the base 18,fully encloses the motor operator 10.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the motor operator 10 includes a motor28, which in the present example is an electrical motor 28 securedbetween one wall 30 of the base 18 and the motor bracket 32. A screwshaft 34 extends between the wall 30 and wall 36 of the base 18, beingrotatably secured within the apertures 35 therein at either end. Gear 38is located at one end of the screw shaft 34, with the gear 38operatively engaging a corresponding gear that is driven by the motor28, so that the screw shaft 34 is thereby driven by the motor 32. Asliding actuator 40 includes an upper portion 42 that is threadedlyconnected to the screw shaft 34, and a lower portion 44 that engages theoperating handle 46 of the circuit breaker 14. A kill/toggle switch islocated at either end of the range of travel of the sliding actuator 40.The kill/toggle switches, which are not shown but are well known in theart, when actuated by the sliding actuator 40, will simultaneously shutoff current to the motor 28, and reverse the direction of currentthrough the motor 28. The flow of current through the motor 28 isfurther controlled through the printed circuit board 48, and itsassociated signal processing circuitry (well known in the art).

[0024] The motor operator 10 will typically be used to remotely controlthe operation of the circuit breaker 14. When the user transmits asignal to close the circuit breaker 14, the control circuitry within thePC board 48 will supply current to the motor 28, thereby rotating thescrew shaft 34 to move the sliding actuator 40 from one end of its rangeof travel to the other, thereby moving the circuit breaker's operatinghandle 46, and closing the circuit breaker 14. Upon reaching the end ofits range of travel wherein the circuit breaker 14 is closed, thesliding actuator 40 hits the kill/toggle switch at that location,thereby shutting off current to the motor 28, and reversing thedirection of current to the motor 28. When the user opens the circuitbreaker 14, the control circuit within the PC board 48 will again supplycurrent to the motor 28, thereby moving the sliding actuator 40 to theopposite end of its range of travel along the screw shaft 34, moving thecircuit breaker's operating handle 46 to the open position. As before,when a sliding actuator 40 reaches the position wherein the circuitbreaker is open, it strikes a kill/toggle switch, shutting off currentto the motor 28, and also reversing the direction of current flow to themotor 28.

[0025] Although it may be desirable to use different motors 28 withindifferent motor operators 10, it is desirable to use as many of the samecomponents within different motor operators 10 as possible. For example,a bracket 32 according to the present invention may accommodate twodifferent motors. Referring to FIGS. 5-6, the bracket 32 includes afirst flange 50, substantially perpendicular to a second flange 52. Ajoint or corner 54 separates the first flange 50 and second flange 52.The first flange 50 includes a motor aperture 56, and a second flange 52includes a motor aperture 58. In many preferred embodiments the motoraperture 56 and motor aperture 58 will be located different distancesfrom the joint 54. In the illustrated example, the motor aperture 58 isfurther from the joint 54 than the motor aperture 56. Each flange 50, 52will include at least one, and preferably a pair, of motor screwapertures 60, adapted to permit securing a motor 28 to the appropriateflange 50, 52. Likewise, each flange 50, 52 will also include a pair ofbracket mounting apertures 62, dimensioned and configured to permit theuse of screws or other fastening hardware to secure the motor bracket 32to the housing 16. The first flange 50 includes at least one, andpreferably a pair, of locator pins 64. Likewise, the second flange 52includes at least, and more preferably a pair, of locator pins 66. Insome preferred embodiments, the locator pins 64 will be a differentshape and/or offset from the location of the locator pins 66.Alternatively, the locator pins 64 may, in some preferred embodiments,be located a different distance from the joint 54 than the locator pins66. In the illustrated example, the locator pins 64 are square, andadjacent to the edge of the first flange 50, while the locator pins 66are round, and spaced from the edge of the second flange 52.

[0026] FIGS. 7-8 illustrate the use of the mounting bracket 32 in theorientation of FIG. 6, with one alternative motor 28. The bracket 32 isfirst oriented so that the locator pins 64 are properly aligned with thelocator pin holes 68 in the housing 16. Next, the motor 28 is secured tothe bracket 32 by passing the drive shaft 72 and/or gear through themotor aperture 58, securing the motor 28 therein by passing screws orother mounting hardware through the motor screw apertures 60, andfinally placing the locator pins 64 within the locator pin holes 68, andfastening the bracket 32 to the housing 16 through the use of screwspassing through both the mounting apertures 62 and the mountingapertures 70 on the housing 16. The opposite end of the motor will thenbe supported by the housing wall 30, possibly utilizing the motorsupport aperture 74.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 9-10, the bracket 32 is illustrated in theorientation of FIG. 5, so that it may be used with an alternative motor28 a. The bracket 32 is first oriented so that the locator pins 66 arealigned with the locator pin apertures 76 within the housing 16. Themotor 28 a is secured to the flange 50, by passing the drive shaft 72through the aperture 56, and by passing screws or other fastenersthrough the motor screw apertures 60. The location pins 66 are thenplaced in the locator pinholes 76, and screws or other fasteners arepassed through the mounting apertures 62, and the mounting apertures 70within the housing 16. The motor is then supported between the bracket32 and the aperture 74 of the wall 30 of the housing 16.

[0028] Upon reading the above-description, several potential advantagesof a bracket 32 of the present invention become apparent. For example,the same bracket may be utilized with motors 28 of different widths ordiameters by using a bracket 32 wherein one of the apertures 56, 58 is agreater distance from the joint 54 than the other aperture 56, 58.Alternatively, a bracket 32 may be utilized with motors having differentlengths within the same housing by placing the holes 68 corresponding tothe locator pins 64 in one location, and placing the holes 76corresponding to the pins 66 in another location. The proper orientationof the bracket 32 may thereby be keyed to the distance between thebracket 32 and the wall 30. As another alternative, if different motors28 are utilized with different housings 16, the housing 16 may containeither the locator pin holes 68, or the locator pin holes 76, therebyensuring that the bracket 32 may be placed within the housing 16 only inthe manner appropriate to support the motor 28 used with that particularhousing 16. The bracket 32 of the present invention thereby not onlyprovides one bracket 32 that may be utilized with two different motors28, but also provides a means for ensuring that the motor operator 10can only be assembled with the bracket 32 in its proper orientation forthat application.

[0029] While a specific embodiment of the invention has been describedin detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatvarious modifications and alternatives to those details could bedeveloped in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure.Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to beillustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the inventionwhich is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any andall equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mounting bracket for supporting one end of amotor within a motor operator, the motor operator having a housingincluding at least one side wall supporting the motor's other end, saidmounting bracket comprising: a first flange; a second flangesubstantially perpendicular to said first flange, said second flangehaving an outside face facing away from said first flange, and an insideface facing towards said first flange; said first flange having anoutside face facing away from said second flange, and an inside flangefacing towards said second flange; a joint between said first and secondflanges; said first flange defining a motor receiving aperture a firstdistance from said joint; said second flange defining a motor receivingaperture a second distance from said joint; said first flange havingmeans for mounting said mounting bracket within the housing, located athird distance from said joint; and said second flange includes meansfor securing said mounting bracket within the housing, located a fourthdistance from said joint.
 2. The mounting bracket according to claim 1,wherein said means for securing said mounting bracket within saidhousing include at least one locator pin depending from said outsideface of said first flange.
 3. The mounting bracket according to claim 2,wherein said at least one first locator pin is square.
 4. The mountingbracket according to claim 2, wherein said at least one locator pin isround.
 5. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein said meansfor securing said mounting bracket within said housing include at leastone locator pin depending from said outside face of said second flange.6. The mounting bracket according to claim 5, wherein said at least onelocator pin is square.
 7. The mounting bracket according to claim 5,wherein said at least one locator pin is round.
 8. The mounting bracketaccording to claim 1, wherein a distance between one of said motorreceiving apertures and said joint is greater than a distance betweensaid other motor receiving aperture and said joint.
 9. The mountingbracket according to claim 1, wherein said means for securing saidmounting bracket within said housing include: at least one first locatorpin depending from said outside surface of said first flange; and atleast one second locator pin depending from said outside surface of saidsecond flange.
 10. The mounting bracket according to claim 9, wherein:said at least one first locator pin has a first shape; and said at leastone second locator pin has a second shape.
 11. A motor operator,comprising: a motor having a pair of ends; a housing including a sidewall dimensioned and configured to support one end of said motor; amotor bracket dimensioned and configured to support one end of saidmotor, comprising: a first flange; a second flange substantiallyperpendicular to said first flange, said second flange having an outsideface facing away from said first flange, and an inside face facingtowards said first flange; said first flange having an outside facefacing away from said second flange, and an inside flange facing towardssaid second flange; a joint between said first and second flanges; saidfirst flange defining a motor receiving aperture a first distance fromsaid joint; said second flange defining a motor receiving aperture asecond distance from said joint; said first flange having means formounting said mounting bracket within the housing, located a thirddistance from said joint; and said second flange includes means forsecuring said mounting bracket within the housing, located a fourthdistance from said joint.
 12. The motor operator according to claim 11,wherein said means for securing said mounting bracket within saidhousing include at least one locator pin depending from said outsideface of said first flange.
 13. The motor operator according to claim 12,wherein said at least one first locator pin is square.
 14. The motoroperator according to claim 12, wherein said at least one locator pin isround.
 15. The motor operator according to claim 11, wherein said meansfor securing said mounting bracket within said housing include at leastone locator pin depending from said outside face of said second flange.16. The motor operator according to claim 15, wherein said at least onelocator pin is square.
 17. The motor operator according to claim 15,wherein said at least one locator pin is round.
 18. The motor operatoraccording to claim 11, wherein a distance between one of said motorreceiving apertures and said joint is greater than a distance betweensaid other motor receiving aperture and said joint.
 19. The motoroperator according to claim 11, wherein said means for securing saidmounting bracket within said housing include: at least one first locatorpin depending from said outside surface of said first flange; and atleast one second locator pin depending from said outside surface of saidsecond flange.
 20. The motor operator according to claim 19, wherein:said at least one first locator pin has a first shape; and said at leastone second locator pin has a second shape.